"Gospel Without Borders" Screening During Democratic National Convention

EthicsDaily.com's documentary on faith and immigration will screen in Charlotte during the Democratic National Convention.

What is the event?

EthicsDaily.com's faith and immigration event during the Democratic National Convention is a screening of the 31-minute version of Gospel Without Borders, a documentary produced by EthicsDaily.com that was funded largely by the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas. Following the screening, an ecumenical panel of bishops will speak from a faith perspective about the moral urgency of immigration reform.

When is the event?

The event is scheduled for Sept. 4, currently from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Where is it?

The event is at Saint Peter's Catholic Church, located in downtown Charlotte, at 507 S. Tryon Street. St. Peter's is the oldest Catholic parish in Charlotte, established in 1851. It is located across the street from the convention center.

The map below shows Saint Peter's Catholic Church, as well as the Stonewall Street station of the LYNX BLUE RAIL LINE, which we recommend folks take into downtown Charlotte. People may park at the outermost station of the line (the I-485/South Boulevard station) and take the LYNX to the Stonewall Street station, which is only about 2 blocks from Saint Peter's. See LYNX info at http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/lynx/pages/default.aspx.

CliffordJones, pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, will welcome delegates, party officials, members of the faith community and others to the event.

What is the purpose of the event?

The purpose of the event is to provide a witness of Christian leaders to political leaders about the moral imperative to prioritize the plight of undocumented immigrants.

"We want this to be a moral challenge to the Obama Administration and to Democratic officials," said Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics and co-producer of the documentary.

Is the event sponsored by the Democratic Party?

The event is neither sanctioned nor funded by the Democratic Party. The event is during the Democratic National Convention for delegates of faith and faith leaders concerned about the undocumented.

Why hold an event in Charlotte?

There are two compelling reasons to hold the event in Charlotte. First is that one of the five stories in Gospel Without Borders is about a bi-vocational Baptist pastor and his family who live in North Carolina. Second is that Charlotte has a simple logistical advantage. St. Peter's Catholic Church is across a parking lot from the convention center and major hotels, making the event easily and quickly accessible. The location eliminates the need to provide transportation to the event.

Does the documentary advocate legislative remedies to address the issue of immigration at either the federal or state levels?

Gospel Without Borders puts a human face on the issue of immigration. It separates myth from fact, examines what the Bible says about treatment of the "stranger," shows the experiences of documented and undocumented immigrants, and provides handles for Christians to advance the common good.

The documentary highlights stories in five states: Arizona, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama and Iowa. Some stories break the heart. Others inspire the spirit. Still others challenge the mind. But all come together and show that the Christian gospel is indeed without borders.

The documentary advocates for no legislative remedy for solving the immigration issue.

What are expected outcomes from the event?

While many see the issue mostly in political and law enforcement terms, some in the faith community see the issue primarily in moral terms and want it to be considered in the public square as a moral issue. One expected outcome is greater framing of the issue on moral grounds. Another expected outcome is for political leaders to see the depth of ecumenical collaboration on the issue of immigration reform.